Sam Ricketts Pre Burton Albion

Sam Ricketts looks towards returning home on Saturday as Town host Burton Albion. Shrewsbury are hoping to continue their winning ways and put in another strong performance.

Town played Burton several times last season in the league and other cup competitions. “There’s been a few changes, but generally it will be the same style and same philosophy. They’re a decent side and not long ago were in the Championship. Last year was the first one back in League One. But they’ve got some good players who certainly know how to play football,” Sam said.

Burton had a big win Tuesday evening after securing all three points from Oxford. “Burton had a really good away win at Oxford. One of the sides to do well this season and they’ve spent big money this year. They’ve signed a few more players this week to. So, for Burton to go there this week and record the victory like they did. It says a lot about them and what they’re aspirations are.”

Town made an impressive come-back Tuesday evening after scoring three goals in thirteen minutes. With Dan Udoh scoring the winner with minutes remaining. “It’s not the 11 players who win lose or draw, succeed or not. It’s the squad of players as a whole and that’s why the best thing about the group here is the togetherness and team spirit which came out in an abundance. Not only in the game but at the end of the game as well. After the game the lads cheering for Dan in the changing room and that’s what is so beautiful about the squad we’ve got.”

Udoh had only completed one training session before he was put back into the squad. “We rushed him back in. he’s only done one training session before going back into the squad. He did really well. He’ll be back in training today and just trying to get his fitness levels and sharpness back up to as hard as we can get him.”

Sam explained that on Tuesday evening a few players picked up some niggles. “Hopefully Josh Laurent will be back for the weekend which will be a really good boost. Great win the other night but we’ve picked up other niggles from the game so we’re just assessing those over the next couple of days. Hopefully everything’s ok, but some are touch and go. We’re a little light whilst we still do have some injures and getting players up to speed. So that’s why the togetherness in the squad is so good because we’re all in this together.”

Town’s two new boys, Sean Goss and Louis Thompson made quite the impression Tuesday night. “That’s why we bought them to the club to add that quality to the team and to the squad, I think. You’re starting to see what both players are capable of. Louis, that was only his second game, he literally hasn’t played any pre-season games. This is like his first and second game of pre-season, so we have to be very careful with him and make sure we look after him and make sure we don’t put him at risk of injury.”

“Players are always at risk of injuries but can we minimalise that to make sure that he’s good for all the games coming up. I think you can see the impact he made coming on as a sub and you can see what his strengths are. His pace and power are very good. Sean is very good on the ball and he really helps us get the ball moving. That was a big factor as why we we’re able to move the ball and play with a bit more control on Tuesday night than we have done. For the first time since the season started, we’ve moved the ball better.”